§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Department of Health has issued guidelines, or any other form of advice, recommending that nurses or social workers should 26WA not be asked to lift weights above 16.6 kilogrammes; and if so, what is the origin of the advice; and whether they still endorse that advice.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege):No such guidance has been issued by the Department of Health, but the Health and Safety Executive provides guidelines for employers when assessing the risks to health of their employees from manual handling activities. The guidance which mentions the 16.6 kilogrammes is intended to alert employers of the need for a detailed risk assessment. They do not represent weight limits for lifting. The National Health Service Executive drew attention to these and related regulations in EL(93)66, a copy of which is in the Library.